Yes. The Valparaiso City Utilities now offers our customers the ability view and pay their bill online, including enrolling for auto pay. Customers are also able to sign up to receive their bills via email. For additional information, please contact Customer Service at 219-462-6174, ext. 2 click the Online BillPay link.

Your utility bill includes water, sewer, stormwater, and trash pickup. You will not pay for stormwater and trash pickup if you live outside the city limits, and you will not pay for sewer if you have a septic system. View an Example of a City Utility Bill (PDF).

If the water leak or main break is sited during office hours (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT), please call the main office at 219-462-6174, ext. 2. A repair crew will be dispatched as soon as possible.

A boil water advisory is a notification issued as a preventative measure if there is a possibility of bacterial contamination in the drinking water system that would make the customer sick. Please click on the link below to find out more about a boil water advisory or a boil water order. CLICK HERE for additional information....

Iron levels discharged from the treatment plants are from 0.03 to 0.06 milligrams per liter or parts per million. Iron levels can be higher due to the iron pipes in the distribution system. On rare occasions, problems in the filtration process can cause higher levels of iron to be discharged from the treatment plants.

Fluoride is added to our water. The levels of fluoride are kept around 1.0 to 1.3 milligrams per liter or parts per million.

The City of Valparaiso Engineering Department has developed a pamphlet on dealing with basement seepage in response to the heavy rain the Valparaiso area experienced in September of 2008. This pamphlet was intended as an informational, self-help tool for the residents of the city to mitigate the seepage problems. View this Basement Seepage pamphlet (PDF).

The owner's responsibility is anything beyond the curb box, which is usually located in the right of way or at the property line. Anything from the street to the curb box is the Valparaiso City Utilities' responsibility. The Valparaiso City Utilities is also responsible for the meter itself and its connection.

If your monthly sewage rate is higher than your average sewage rate, then you will receive the summer reduced sewage rate for that month. The charge is based on the average of your December through May consumption, and it applies to the five months between April 25 to September 25 (for account numbers starting with 01 and 02), or May 15 to October 15 (for account numbers starting with 03, 04, and 05). You must have at least three bills prior to June to receive a sprinkling average.

If you have any questions, please call customer service at 219-462-6174, ext. 2.

If you are moving from one location in town where you are paying a water bill to another location where you will continue to pay a water bill, please call our office at 219-462-6174, ext. 2, and we will do the transfer over the phone.

However, if you are new to the area or have not paid a water bill in the past, you will have to come to our Main Office at 205 Billings Street, and sign up for new services. You will be required to pay a customer deposit, sign the service agreement form, and schedule the switch over. You can waive the customer deposit if you decide to sign up for direct debit authorization. If the water is on at that location, our representative will simply take a reading and the Billing Office will switch the account to your name. If the water is off, we will schedule a specific time with you and our representative in order to turn on the water.

Your utility bill includes water, sewer, stormwater and trash pickup. You will not pay for stormwater and trash pickup if you live outside the city limits, and you will not pay for sewer if you have a septic system. View an Example of a City Utility Bill (PDF).

The full amount of the past due bill must be paid in full to avoid disconnection of service. If you need assistance on paying your bill, please contact the Northwest Indiana Community Action's 211 Program, funded by the United Way Agencies, at 800-826-7871. This is a 24-hour service that is free and confidential.

We also now allow credit card payments. The credit card payment can be made either online or over the phone. The toll-free number is 877-278-2205. For additional information on this service, please check our credit card payment section.

Residential customers whose account numbers start with 01 and 02 can fill their pools beginning April 25. Those customers whose account numbers start with 03, 04, or 05 can fill their pools beginning May 15.

All residential customers (excluding apartments) who have received at least three bills prior to June, will receive the summer reduced sewage rate for five months. The charge is based on the average of your December through May consumption.

If you have questions, please call customer service at 219-462-6174, ext. 2.

After all necessary plumbing, you can pick up a meter horn in the main office at 205 Billings Street. Once the meter horn and wiring are installed, then you may then schedule a meter installation by contacting the Meter Department at 219-462-6174, ext. 1322.

The cost of a new meter depends on the size. This is determined by the calculation of the maximum gallons per minute demand and usage formula. You should consult with your plumber, architect or design engineer to determine the required meter size.

If your meter is inside a building or basement, our meter readers no longer need to bother you to visually read the meter for regular reading cycles. Meters located in underground meter pits can be read without crossing lawns or property lines in most cases.

The chance of reading or billing errors in your water bill will be greatly reduced because the reading data is electronically transferred from the meter and used to prepare the bill by a computerized process.

If you have any additional questions, please call our office at 219-462-6174, ext. 2.

This depends on temperature conditions. We adjust the amount of chlorine at the plants daily. When the air temperature gets warmer, we have to increase the chlorine level because heat will dissipate the chlorine. The water smells because as we adjust the level up and the air temperature cools, more chlorine will remain in the water than if the air temperature had stayed warmer. There is no harm in drinking the water.

If you have any questions, please contact the water operations manager at 219-462-6174, ext. 1341.

Brown water is caused by iron and other materials stirred up in the water mains. This can be caused by a water main break, Street Department street sweepers pulling water from hydrants, or Water Department crews flushing out hydrants, etc. Our office attempts to contact all affected customers when a main break occurs, but we don't always succeed.

If you have rust-colored whites due to brown water, a rust stain remover such as Iron Out will remove the discoloring.

Iron levels discharged from the treatment plants are from 0.03 to 0.06 milligrams per liter or parts per million. Iron levels can be higher due to the iron pipes in the distribution system. On rare occasions, problems in the filtration process can cause higher levels of iron to be discharged from the treatment plants.

Fluoride is added to our water. The levels of fluoride are kept around 0.7 to 1.0 milligrams per liter or parts per million.

Chlorine is added to disinfect the water. Chlorine levels vary depending on the distribution system. The chlorine levels in the water discharged from the treatment plants ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 milligrams per liter or parts per million.

If the water is cloudy, it will clear up after it sits for a short time. Cloudiness in the water is caused by air in the distribution lines. However, cloudiness that does not dissipate may be calcium. If you have this problem, please contact the water operations manager at 219-462-6174, ext. 1341.

Brown water is caused by iron and other materials stirred up in the water mains. This can be caused by a water main break, Street Department street sweepers pulling water from the hydrants, or Water Department crews flushing out hydrants, etc. The water is safe to drink, but do not wash whites, since the clothes will become discolored.

If you are experiencing this problem, simply turn on any cold water faucet (do not turn on the hot water faucet), and let the cold water run for a few minutes. This should clean out the residue in your service line.

If the water does not clear up, please contact the water operations manager at 219-462-6174, ext. 1341.

MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. It is a conveyance or system of conveyances that is:- Designed or used to collect or convey stormwater- Owned by a state, city, town, village, or other public entity that discharges to waters of the U.S.- Not a combined sewer- Not part of a publicly owned treatment works (sewage treatment plant)

MS4 program, commonly known as Stormwater Phase II, is a federally mandated program through the Clean Water Act which requires municipalities to take measures to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff through MS4s in urbanized areas to protect waterways.

Rule 13 (327 IAC 15-13) is the approach by Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to meeting the guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Stormwater Phase II regulations. Rule 13 requires about 170 communities and other urban entities in Indiana (including the City of Valparaiso) to obtain permits for stormwater discharges from MS4s and implement a stormwater management program that will reduce the amount of pollutants entering the waterway as a result of stormwater runoff.

MS4 permits are granted in five year cycles at the end of which the permit must be renewed. The City of Valparaiso’s first permit was granted in 2003. The permit was renewed in 2008.

As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports pollutants to surface waters. Although the amount of pollutants from a single residential, commercial, industrial or construction site may seem unimportant, the combined concentrations of contaminants threaten our lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other water bodies.

Pollution conveyed by stormwater degrades the quality of drinking water, damages fisheries, and habitat of plants and animals that depend on clean water for survival. Pollutants carried by stormwater can also affect recreational uses of water bodies by making them unsafe for wading, swimming, boating and fishing.

Everyone can help reduce water pollution through stormwater runoff. Simple things such as washing our cars on a grassy area where the detergents will soak into the ground instead of running along the driveway and street into an inlet that will carry it all the way to a lake or stream can make a difference.

Use the correct amount of fertilizer for your plants when needed so that the excess is not washed off, creating algae blooms in nearby lakes and ponds. Never pour anything down an inlet that you wouldn’t want in a stream or lake because that’s where it will go.

Dispose of trash and yard waste in proper ways so that they do not get washed into our lakes and streams. There are many such activities that can make a difference and preserve our lakes and streams for future generations.

A detailed site plan must be completed by a licensed engineer or licensed surveyor whenever a project will create a total impervious area of 5,000 square feet or more, or a paved area of 3,500 square feet or more, or involves a multiple unit residential, commercial, or industrial site These plans must be approved by the city engineer’s office before any work may begin.

A site plan may be required with every building permit. The City of Valparaiso will check the plan to ensure that construction activities will not impose upon existing easements or inconvenience adjacent properties. This will help prevent problems such as a tool shed constructed in a drainage easement that must be moved.

Natural habitats allow for plant and animal life that naturally removes pollutants from the environment. This protects and preserves aquatic environments that are needed for drainage and recreational activities such as fishing or canoeing. They also allow stormwater to soak into the ground where it replenishes ground water tables. Low groundwater tables are responsible for streams and lakes drying up as well as problems for residents that rely on well water. Ultimately, every resident of Valparaiso relies on well water because the Valparaiso City Utilities extracts its water from wells.

Automobiles should, ideally, be washed in a commercial car wash where the excess water is collected by the sanitary sewer system and treated before it is released. Barring that, washing the vehicle on a pervious surface, such as a grassed area, will allow the soapy water to soak into the ground where plants can use it instead of it running off to lakes or streams through the stormwater system.

Swimming pools, by state law, may not be discharged into a stormwater system if chlorine has been added within the previous seven days. If the water has been analyzed and it can be shown that the discharge would not contain a concentration greater than 0.05 milligrams per liter of chlorine residual, it may be discharged.

The stormwater system includes anything that would convey the water into a pond, lake, or stream. This includes a resident’s backyard if it drains outside the property lines. The chlorine discharged can damage aquatic life in lakes and streams as well as pose a hazard to other residents downstream. Swimming pool discharge should never be released in such a way that it would inconvenience adjacent properties.

Algae generally feeds on excess fertilizer from the drainage system. The most effective way to stop the algae is to cut off its supply of fertilizer. This can be done by only using fertilizers when needed and in the amounts needed and allowing a buffer strip of plants to grow around the water’s edge. Leaving 10-30 feet of vegetation around the water's edge that is not mowed can significantly reduce the amount of pollutants entering the water and feeding the algae.

There is no way to know how much fertilizer and what type is needed without testing the soil. Soil testing kits can save the owner money by showing that less fertilizer is needed and preserve the environment at the same time. Excess fertilizer is washed away by rainfall. Once the excess fertilizer reaches lakes and streams, it is consumed by plants such as algae. This can lead to algae blooms, where the entire surface of a lake is covered with algae.

Erosion is the indiscriminate transport of soil sediment by any means. Most erosion happens as the result of rainfall, but wind and vehicular tires also produce erosion. Sediments from erosion settle in swales, ponds, lakes, and streams until they eventually fill them. This then requires excavation to return the drainage features to their original state, many times at the tax payers' expense.

Any land disturbance may require an erosion control permit. There is no specific minimum size of project where this begins. Every building permit is reviewed to see if an erosion control permit is needed. Some landscaping projects that do not require a building permit will still require an erosion control permit.

Rule 13 is the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM’s) response to the federal mandate known as the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Phase II requirements. The EPA's Phase II is the second part of its non-point source pollution regulation under the Clean Water Act. Phase I included all large metropolitan areas in the United States, Phase II will include many of the more moderate sized urban areas.

Everyone will be affected by these regulations because individual communities will be forced to alter their existing ordinances to reduce the amount of non-point source pollution produced within their boundaries. This may lead to increased maintenance costs, new development design standards, and/or new regulations regarding fertilizer use just to name a few.

Hazardous materials encompass a wide variety of materials and products. Used batteries, motor oil, paint, paint thinner, gasoline, and lubricants are just a few of the household chemicals that can destroy the environment if they are not disposed of properly. Some guidelines even classify soapy water as a hazardous material because of the environmental impacts it can have on water bodies.

The Solid Waste Department of the City of Valparaiso will pick up yard waste only. Porter County hosts an annual hazardous materials day at the county fairgrounds where residents can drop off hazardous materials that should not even be placed in the trash, let alone poured out on the ground or into an inlet. Please contact the City of Valparaiso if you have any question about these services.

Everyone can reduce the amount of non-point source pollution they produce. Simple things such as washing our cars on a grassed area where the detergents will soak into the ground instead of running along the driveway and street into an inlet that will carry it all the way to a lake or stream. Use the correct amount of fertilizer for our plants when needed so that the excess can’t be washed off and fertilize algae in nearby lakes and ponds. Never pour anything down an inlet that you wouldn’t want in a stream or lake because that’s where it will go. Dispose of trash and yard waste in proper ways so that they don’t get washed into our lakes and streams. There are many such activities that can make a difference and preserve our lakes and streams for our children and our children’s children.

Non-point source pollution is pollution that is produced over an area and not released from a specific source. These pollutants are washed away by rainwater and eventually enter lakes and streams. Government regulations have drastically reduced point source pollution, such as illegal dumping or leaking storage tanks, and are now targeting non-point source pollution. Non-point source pollution is damaging our lakes and streams by clogging them with sediment and raising levels of specific pollutants in them.

If you are having problems with flooding or standing water, please contact the City Engineer’s office at the Valparaiso City Hall, 219-462-1161. We will investigate the problem and do what we can to solve it. There are currently many such problems within the City of Valparaiso so projects are prioritized based upon several factors that include public safety and potential property damaged to residents. We will get to each problem as quickly as possible.

Downspouts cannot be tied into a storm sewer. They must be discharged in a vegetated area at least 10 feet away form the property line or right of way line along a street or alley. This allows some of the water to infiltrate or soak into the ground and spread out over a larger area before reaching adjacent properties.

The $11 fee added to all single family residential utility bills is used for maintenance and repairs of the stormwater drainage system operated by the City of Valparaiso. Commercial and industrial sites pay more each month based on the square footage of impervious area on their facility. The funds are used to solve flooding problems, as well as a host of other activities.Every resident benefits from these activities because they maintain the systems that drain stormwater from city streets to provide safe travel and transport as well as prevent stagnant water from becoming a problem.

The City of Valparaiso Engineering Department has developed a pamphlet on dealing with basement seepage in response to the heavy rain the Valparaiso area experienced in September of 2008. This pamphlet was intended as an informational, self-help tool for the residents of the city to mitigate the seepage problems View the pamphlet (PDF).

Please call Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service at 800-382-5544 or 8-1-1. A representative will be out within two working days to locate the water main. For more information, review programs offered by the Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service.

If the water leak or main break is sited during office hours (Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CT), please call the main office at 219-462-6174, ext. 2. A repair crew will be dispatched as soon as possible.

The distribution manager schedules all yard, sidewalk and driveway repair work during the spring and summer months when weather allows. Should you have questions concerning repair work, please contact the Collections / Distribution Manager at219-462-6174, ext. 1319.

The owner's responsibility is anything beyond the shutoff box, which is usually located in the right of way or at the property line. Anything from the street to the shutoff box is the Valparaiso City Utilities' responsibility. The Valparaiso City Utilities is also responsible for the meter itself and its connection. For a visual representation of the City and owner responsibilities, review this Water Responsibility Diagram (PDF).

If you are developing a subdivision or a commercial business and you need water extended to your property, please contact the Collections / Distribution manager at 219-462-6174, ext. 1319.

The Mapping Department requires three site drawings (blue line) showing all streets, street names, lot layouts, lot numbers, addresses, and utilities. The department will also accept electronic files with the above information in the latest version of AutoCAD or in PDF in lieu of three blue line drawings. These files may either be stored and delivered on CD or emailed to the Mapping Department. The distribution manager will develop a cost estimate and mail and / or fax you this information when completed.

In some cases, the Valparaiso City Utilities may have been provided a drawing of the service line layout by the contractor at the time of installation. Please contact the Collections Division at 219-462-6174. Ask for either Keith at ext. 1369 or Tony at ext. 1365.

The Valparaiso City Utilities does not recommend or endorse any private contractors or sewer repair companies. Homeowners are free to hire any contractor or agency that is licensed and bonded to perform sewer repairs in the City of Valparaiso.